Bottle stopper



May 6, 1930 H. G. NoRwQoD 1,757,438

BOTTLE STOPPER Filed Oct. 23, 1926 Bly M( wif/Wip.

Patented Vay 6, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHCE HARRY Gr. NORWOOD, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN DAIRY SUPPLY COMPANY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A CORPORATION OF MAINE p BOTTLE STOPPER i Application filed October 23, 1926.

This invention relates to bottle Stoppers of the paper disk type. One object of the invention is to provide an integral pull tab so designed as to require no stapling or other reinforcement. Another feature of the invention relates to the scoring of the margin of the disk in a peculiar way to facilitate removal of the disk without impairment of its sealing qualities.

AThe preferred embodiment of the inven tion is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical axial section of the mouth of a milk bottle with my improved disk stopper in place.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the stopper.

Fig. 3 is a section of the stopper, taken on the same plane as Fig. l, but showing the pull tabs raised.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

y Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

The stopper consists of the usual disk 6 of card board preferably impregnated with paraffin. T'he disk is scored or cut part way through in a circle concentricl with and near to the edge of the disk, as shown at 7 The interval between the edge of the disk and the concentric score line may conveniently be about one-eighth of an inch. This provides an annular flexible zone which facilitates removal of the disk. This effect may be further increased by the addition of radial score lines 8, six being shown in Fig 2, eX tending from the circular score line to the y margin of the disk. These score lines are preferably of the same depth as the circular score line with which they preferably conneet, (see Figs. 4 and 5). Thile six of these radial lines is a suitable number', the number may be increased or diminished as desired.

Two pull tabs 11, are cut from the body of the disk within t-he score line 7, and each tab is defined by a. C-shaped score 9, the ends of each score being tangent or nearly tangent to the fold line of the corresponding tab,

indicated on Fig. 2 by the dotted lines ilk- A.

The scores 9 merely define the margin of the tab and the tab is not otherwise severed from the body of the disk 6.

To facilitate the raising of the tabs, the

Serial N0. 143,761.

paper of the disk 6 is heavily indented or otherwise recessed, as indicated at 10, and in practice the tab is raised by inserting the finger nail in the indentation 10 and drawing the tab up. The portion within cach score line 9 splits readily from the body of the disk.

I have found that a stronger tab is secured, and that there is less danger of tearing at the fold line, if the score line 9 be deeper adjacent the fold line than it at the extremity of the tab, i. e., near the indentation l0. This characteristic is clearly indicated in Fig. 3, and is one of the novel features of the present invention.

lVhen the disk is inserted it bows downwardly slightly, as any plain disk would do, there being no localized flexure on the score line 7. The disk thus seals normally. Then the disk is withdrawn, thc marginal portion tier-:es downwardly quite readily, folding on the score line 7. The initial folding is resisted somewhat by the stii'lening action of the parailin, but as soon as the folding has started the disk may be withdrawn quite easily. Consequently, while the disk makes an effective seal, ease of withdrawal reduces stress on the pull tabs in a material degree.

The particular form of the tab contributes greatly to its strength. By scoring the lab deeply near the line of fold, the tab is made quite strong at this point, so that good resistance to tearing is secured. Furthermore, the tangency of the score line with the fold line greatly reduces the tendency to tear. lVhen pulling on the tab, the stress is favorable to a continuation ofthe severance along the line of the score if the score be approximately at right angles to the fold line. This tendency is minimized if the score line curves into tangency with the fold line. It is necessary to preserve a substantial distance between the fold lines A-A so that there will be an area of unscored paper between the two tabs. Vith ordinary paper disks, an interval of five-eighths of an inch between the fold lines A-A will be found satisfactory.

This tab construction will operate satisfactorily on disks lacking the score lines` 7 and 8, and, similarly, the advantages of the score lines are not dependent on the presence of any particular type of pull tabs.

W'hat lis claimed is,-

l. A stopper for jars, comprising a disk of paper or the like having` an annular slit of inappreciable width adjacent its margin, said slit extending part way through the disk from the upper face.

`2. A stopper'for jars, comprising a disk of paper or the like having an annular score adjacent its margin, extending part Way through the disk from the upper face, and radial scores extending part way through the disk from the upper face in the interval between the annular score and the margin of the disk.

3. A disk stopper of the type in which an integral tab is formed by cutting' a defining score line in the upper face of the disk and then splitting the tab from the body of the disk and folding it upward, characterized by the tact that the delininggscore line is deeper adjacent the line of fold than it is adjacent theV extremity of the tab.

et. A disk stopper of the type in which an integral tabis formed by cutting' a defining score line in the upper face oi" the disk and then splitting the tab from the body of the disk and folding it upward, characterized by the fact that the defining score line curves inward substantially into tangency with the fold line at each end of the score line.

5. A disk stopper of the type in which an integral tab is formed by cutting;` a defining score line in the upper tace of. the disk and then splitting' the tab from the body of the disk and folding it upward, characterized by the tact that the defining score line curves inward substantially into tangency with the 'told line at each end of the score line and is deeper adjacent the line of fold than adjacent the extremity of the tab.

6. A stopper comprising a disk of paper or the like, having two opposed integral pull tabs` each deiined by a score and split from the body of the disk and folded upward for use`v the lines ot fold being spaced apart a substantial distance and each being defined by the opposite ends of each score which are each curved into substantial alinement with the corresponding` line of fold.

' In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiication.

HARRY Gr. NORVVOOD. 

